Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 4, before section 3, to insert the following new section:

"3.–The Minister shall, as soon as may be, after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a Report on the effects of abolishing the Back to Education Allowance for post graduate students and the implications of this decision concerning access to third level education."

On Second Stage I implored the Minister to revoke section 3. The amendment calls on her to report to the Oireachtas on the effects of the decision to abolish the back-to-education allowance scheme. This is a cruel and crude cutback.

On Second Stage the Minister indicated that a person with a primary degree had ample qualification for work. However, this fails to understand that many students returning to the education system do so in the belief they will be allowed to complete their studies. The vast majority of the courses in which they are involved necessitate continuing education. In most instances this will involve a postgraduate qualification. The author of this cutback failed to recognise this.

It is petty in the extreme that the Department which held out incentives to return to education is now saying it is a luxury that can no longer be afforded. That is very regrettable. In 2002 there were 3,679 participants in the scheme, which is a credit to themselves and the Department.

The Department has also targeted the important incentive which allowed for a continuation of the allowance during the summer holidays. If this was carried to its conclusion, it would mean participants would also lose their allowance during other holiday periods such as Christmas and Easter. Why has the summer break been singled out?